Hot Picks 03.13.25

 Thursday, March 13

Small But Mighty

If you were gifted a substantial amount of money, how would you spend it? Many would likely use it to pay overdue bills, while others might splurge on a new car. But if you were gifted that money with the caveat that it must be used to promote kindness, then what would you do? That was the idea behind Atherton resident Terri Bullock’s social experiment in 2020, where she gifted 50 people each a significant chunk of cash. The experiment is the subject of a 40-minute documentary, The Power of Small, highlighting six of the people who received the funds and the actions they took to spend them. Pacific Grove resident Rick Bragdon was one of the recipients, and he’ll share his story during this screening. [EC]

7-8:30pm Thursday, March 13. Wendi Kirby Music, 550 Hartnell St., Suite F, Monterey. $23. wendikirbymusic.com.

 Thursday, March 13 - Sunday, March 16

Hold Out

How does one measure the life of another when that life is on the line? In a democratic justice system like the U.S., the burden of proof for criminal cases is “beyond a reasonable doubt.” And audience members get to see a story like this put to the test on stage at the Monterey Peninsula College Studio Theatre during MPC’s production of 12 Angry Men. Watch the emotions unfold in this adaptation of the classic American courtroom drama by Reginald Rose. In this adaptation, a guard begins by muttering that a teenager accused of murder has no chance – open and shut. [SC]

7pm Thursdays-Saturdays, 2pm Sundays, March 13-23. MPC Studio Theatre, 980 Fremont St., Monterey. $7-$20. 645-1360, mpc.edu.

 Friday, March 14

Film Valley

The Watsonville Film Festival got its start 13 years ago as a one-day event inside the theater on the Watsonville High School campus. In recent years, it has expanded its reach to Monterey County, and for 2025, is making its Salinas debut with a slate of film screenings, including the Monterey Bay premiere of The Long Valley, a short film set in the Salinas Valley made by CSUMB graduates that was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in January. The festival wraps up with events on March 15 and 25 in Watsonville. [EC]

6-8pm Friday, March 14 (film screenings). Maya Cinemas, 153 Main St., Salinas. Sold out. 8-10pm Friday, March 14 (after party). XL Public House, 127 Main St., Salinas. Free, 21 and over. watsonvillefilmfest.org.

Heart Strings

There is a good chance that this evening of music will leave you in tears – not of mourning, but for life and love and the passion that swells through both. Jaqui Hope, Linda Arceo and the rest of River Voices deliver ballads trembling with emotion, rockers that pierce the heart and country twang that stomps dusty memories from the floor. The opening act, acoustic duo Ripatti & Rose, may be a bit quieter, but their music is no less packed with soulful punches. [DF]

7pm Friday, March 14. Wave Street Studios, 744 Wave St., Monterey. $23-$28. 655-2010, wavestreetstudios.com.

Pour Tour

Contrary to what the title might suggest, this event isn’t about wine tasting – though wine will be available for purchase. Instead, it’s about two award-winning comedy podcasters, Em Schulz and Christine Schiefer, coming to town as part of their “Pour Decisions” spring tour, brought to you by their hit podcast, And That’s Why We Drink. Their podcast dives into the hosts’ latest paranormal and true crime obsessions, overlaid with hilarious commentary that had earned the podcast over 200 million downloads and a consistent spot in the top 20 comedy podcast charts. Their last tour, “On The Rocks,” sold out across North America. Snag a ticket for a night of laughs, mystery and supernatural stories – before it’s too late. [KR]

8pm Friday, March 14. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St. Monterey. $28-$84. goldenstatetheatre.com.

 Saturday, March 15

Cut and Grow

Rain or shine, the 68th annual Cutting Day and Horticulture Faire is on. After all, gardeners can appreciate rainy days. Volunteers bring yard clippings to share, local nurseries donate and distribute hundreds of plants and trees – and you are invited to take home cuttings. Get free tree seedlings, native plant tips, information on propagation and more. The City of Monterey’s Parks and Recreation Department is the host. “We look forward to welcoming the public to this educational, fun and free annual event that is a Monterey tradition,” Parks and Rec Director Karen Larson said. [AP]

9am-noon Saturday, March 15. Friendly Plaza, 534 Pacific St., Monterey Free. 646-3860, norton@monterey.gov, monterey.gov.

Living History

During a time when a lot of history was being written by men, Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds stood apart. Founded in 1913 by the Young Women’s Christian Association, “Asilomar was established, designed, built, owned and operated by and for women,” as State Parks Interpreter Jenifer Lienau Thompson puts it. What better place to bring women’s history to life for Women’s History Month? This day of festivities invites participants to tour buildings designed by architect Julia Morgan (tours start at 10:30am, 11:30am and 12:30pm at Phoebe Hearst Social Hall). Or shake it up with dance workshops starting with the Charleston (10:30am) then the jitterbug (12:45pm) in Merrill Hall. To learn about the role women played in California’s environmental movement, listen to a keynote by Traci Bliss, author of Big Basin Redwood Forest: California’s Oldest State Park, at 2pm in the chapel. [SR]

10am-5pm Saturday, March 15. Asilomar Conference Grounds, 800 Asilomar Ave., Pacific Grove. Free; reservations required for keynote address. 646-6440, eventbrite.com.

Blue Print

A camera – including a phone camera – or a lens are some of the first things that comes to mind when we think about photographs, but those aren’t the only ways we can capture images. There are different, cameraless techniques we can use to obtain images. One is cyanotype, which involves a photographic printing process from circa 1850, using sunlight to produce beautiful, blue, monochromatic images. (It looks like magic but it’s a chemical reaction.) Artist Iris McWilliams of Song Dog Studios offers a workshop where people can learn how to make cyanotypes incorporating landscapes and portraits, by using photo negatives. Attendees are welcome to bring their own negatives; all other supplies are included. [CJ]

1:30-4:30pm Saturday, March 15. Monterey Museum of Art, 559 Pacific St., Monterey. $75. 372-5477, montereyart.org/event.

Pops to It

There are several reasons to catch the Pacific Grove Pops Orchestra, their spring concert in particular. To start with, the performance is free. Believe it or not, however, that’s not the biggest draw. Neither is the fact that they are a community – talented locals young and old committed to the music. In the 12th season? Yes, a good reason. But that just proves their worth. No, the main attraction is a performance of rousing selections, from Souza marches to familiar movie themes and vibrant pieces by Victor Lopez and others that will leave you inspired and full of enthusiasm for the rest of the day. [DF]

2pm Saturday, March 15. The Performing Arts Center of Pacific Grove, 835 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. pgpopsorchestra.com.

In Celebration of Women

Women’s Night Out at the Monterey Symphony is back for the seventh year, this time with an astrological theme. Partygoers are encouraged to get creative and dress in a way that most aligns with their sign of the zodiac – think something of the sea for Pisces or a lioness for Leo, for example. The party features music by DJ Luna, Pour Girl cocktails and bites from Chic Charcuterique. Tarot and palm readers will also be on hand, along with a photo booth. After the party downstairs in Sunset Center’s Studio 105, the Symphony performs upstairs in the theater, featuring violin superstar Simone Porter playing Beethoven’s masterful “Violin Concerto.” It’s a perfect night to celebrate all things female. [PM]

6pm Saturday, March 15. Sunset Center, San Carlos Street and 9th Avenue, Carmel. Women’s Night Out: sold out. 7:30pm concert: $12-$88. 646-8511, montereysymphony.org.

Live from Paradise

UC Santa Cruz’s African American Theater Arts Troupe is known as the only one of its kind in the University of California system, offering performances to bring visibility and understanding of African American culture through performance. The group arrives in Seaside to present Paradise Blue by playwright Dominique Morisseau. The drama- and music-filled story follows jazz club owner Blue in 1949 Detroit, who must choose between selling his club, leaving behind his demons, or sticking with it to help others fulfill their dreams. The production is made possible thanks to a grant from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. [EC]

7-9pm Saturday, March 15. Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby Ave., Seaside. Free. 899-9909, palenkearts.com.

 Monday, March 17

Fast Feet

A new era of Irish dance is here – Celtic tap. This dynamic style honors the traditions of Irish dancing while fusing them with the fast-paced rhythms of tap. With St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, Velocity Irish Dance is coming for a celebratory show. First debuting on Broadway in 2018, the show delivers an electrifying performance backed by a diverse group of musicians – including a DJ – blending old and new. The duo features James Devine, a Guinness World Record holder for the Fastest Feet in the World, and five-time world champion Irish dancer David Geaney. [KR]

7:30pm Monday, March 17. Sunset Center, San Carlos Street at 9th Avenue, Carmel. $40-$79. 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org.

 Tuesday, March 18

Safari Story Hour

James Currie got hooked on birding as a kid when, in his native city of Cape Town, South Africa, he saw a black eagle swoop down and sink its talons into a hyrax, which the eagle then carried aloft. After years studying various African languages and wildlife conservation, Currie became a safari guide for over a decade before ultimately becoming a media personality, hosting the TV shows Birding Adventures and Aerial Assassins, which aired on NBC Sports and Nat Geo, respectively. He’s also written books, and consulted on the film The Big Year, a 2011 birdwatching comedy starring Steve Martin, Owen Wilson and Jack Black. But at this event Currie will be focused on stories from his years as a safari guide, whether it be encounters with a lion, humorous moments with birds or the plight of Africa’s male elephants, whose tusks are ever-sought by poachers. It should be memorable – Currie is an entertainer and he’s got plenty of stories. [DS]

6-7:15pm Tuesday, March 18. Hopkins Marine Station, 120 Ocean View Blvd., Pacific Grove. Free. hopkinsmarinestation.stanford.edu.

HOT PICKS by Sloan Campi, Erik Chalhoub, Dave Faries, Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Agata Popęda, Katie Rodriguez, Sara Rubin and David Schmalz.